Car seats for 2

I'm looking for opinions on car seat placements. LO #2 is due on March 3. DD will be 21 months. She currently is rear facing, and the seat is behind the passenger seat. As a result, DH tends to drive everywhere. Because we have to move up the front seat to be sure that the back of that seat isn't touching the car seat (police were very clear about that during installation), when he sits in the passenger seat, he doesn't have much room. He fits, but he's not comfortable because his knees are almost hitting the glove compartment.

So, this leads me to my question. How would you position the car seats when adding a second seat into the car? I wanted to keep DD rear facing until at least 2, if not longer (I'd keep her rear facing until she was 99 if I could!). The safest place for the infant seat, with two car seats in the car, is behind the passenger seat. But DD couldn't sit rear facing behind the drivers seat because it would require that seat to be too far forward for DH to drive comfortably. And while I know some people would say, hey, he can get used to it, I personally think it's would be dangerous for him to try to drive, with his legs cramped in the space. So in that position, DD would need to be forward facing. But it's earlier than I wanted.

On the flip side, we could put the infant seat behind the drivers side, and keep DD rear facing behind the passenger seat. But then you have a newborn in the less safe position.

I feel like with either scenario I have to compromise on safety somewhere, and I don't like it.

What would you suggest?

Oh - one other note, I'm not sure if the seats would fit side by side, with one in the middle, so I will be checking that. If that doesn't work, then what would you suggest?

Hi ladies!

I'm looking for opinions on car seat placements. LO #2 is due on March 3. DD will be 21 months. She currently is rear facing, and the seat is behind the passenger seat. As a result, DH tends to drive everywhere. Because we have to move up the front seat to be sure that the back of that seat isn't touching the car seat (police were very clear about that during installation), when he sits in the passenger seat, he doesn't have much room. He fits, but he's not comfortable because his knees are almost hitting the glove compartment.

So, this leads me to my question. How would you position the car seats when adding a second seat into the car? I wanted to keep DD rear facing until at least 2, if not longer (I'd keep her rear facing until she was 99 if I could!). The safest place for the infant seat, with two car seats in the car, is behind the passenger seat. But DD couldn't sit rear facing behind the drivers seat because it would require that seat to be too far forward for DH to drive comfortably. And while I know some people would say, hey, he can get used to it, I personally think it's would be dangerous for him to try to drive, with his legs cramped in the space. So in that position, DD would need to be forward facing. But it's earlier than I wanted.

On the flip side, we could put the infant seat behind the drivers side, and keep DD rear facing behind the passenger seat. But then you have a newborn in the less safe position.

I feel like with either scenario I have to compromise on safety somewhere, and I don't like it.

What would you suggest?

Oh - one other note, I'm not sure if the seats would fit side by side, with one in the middle, so I will be checking that. If that doesn't work, then what would you suggest?

When it comes down to it, you're completely right-somewhere safety gets compromised. But you're working to make it as safe as you possibly can and you can rest knowing that you're maximizing the safety options. Since that still leaves you making a choice, I'd say to do whatever will be most convenient and NOT about which child will be the safest. You'll drive yourself mad when in all reality, you know you're looking out for their best interest. Personally, the most convenient sounds like making DH comfy to drive...I agree that it complicates driving when you're cramped & then you're ALL at risk. Good luck and congrats on the new LO!

When it comes down to it, you're completely right-somewhere safety gets compromised. But you're working to make it as safe as you possibly can and you can rest knowing that you're maximizing the safety options. Since that still leaves you making a choice, I'd say to do whatever will be most convenient and NOT about which child will be the safest. You'll drive yourself mad when in all reality, you know you're looking out for their best interest. Personally, the most convenient sounds like making DH comfy to drive...I agree that it complicates driving when you're cramped & then you're ALL at risk. Good luck and congrats on the new LO!

I would try to put them side by side but I've never heard that passenger is safer than driver. I've always heard the middle seat is the safest so we do middle and passenger. We have two britax boulevards side by side in one car and a boulevard and orbit in the other. My husband is tall so he doesn't love sitting in the passenger seat but it's not unbearable.

I would try to put them side by side but I've never heard that passenger is safer than driver. I've always heard the middle seat is the safest so we do middle and passenger. We have two britax boulevards side by side in one car and a boulevard and orbit in the other. My husband is tall so he doesn't love sitting in the passenger seat but it's not unbearable.

How do you get your child in and out of the middle seat? Is it difficult? Not that it matters, but I am curious. Dh can sit in the passenger seat, it just gets uncomfortable quickly. But he couldnt drive that way.

How do you get your child in and out of the middle seat? Is it difficult? Not that it matters, but I am curious. Dh can sit in the passenger seat, it just gets uncomfortable quickly. But he couldnt drive that way.

That's what the police told us when they installed our infant seat and then again when they installed the convertible. They were really clear about it and made a point to show that there was space between the two and that the passenger seat shouldn't move any further back.

That's what the police told us when they installed our infant seat and then again when they installed the convertible. They were really clear about it and made a point to show that there was space between the two and that the passenger seat shouldn't move any further back.

Well I looked it up and didn't find anything that supported it only something that said it is a good thing if it IS touching? It would be possible to move or passenger seat up to where it is not touching but not driver because of my husband's height.

Well I looked it up and didn't find anything that supported it only something that said it is a good thing if it IS touching? It would be possible to move or passenger seat up to where it is not touching but not driver because of my husband's height.

When the time comes for me to have two car seats, I suspect my first will be a little over two so his seat will be forward facing behind the passenger seat and the infant carrier will be in the middle facing rear. My son is not on the small side so I think he will be ok to turn forward after two.

When the time comes for me to have two car seats, I suspect my first will be a little over two so his seat will be forward facing behind the passenger seat and the infant carrier will be in the middle facing rear. My son is not on the small side so I think he will be ok to turn forward after two.

I currently have two. One forward facing behind passenger. And the infant rear facing in the middle. Dd is 6 behind passenger and ds is 13 months sitting in the middle It's a bit of a challenge putting ds in his seat but it's the only way I figured I could position the seats. Dh is 6'3 so whether he drives or sits in the passenger seat he's still comfortable.

I currently have two. One forward facing behind passenger. And the infant rear facing in the middle. Dd is 6 behind passenger and ds is 13 months sitting in the middle It's a bit of a challenge putting ds in his seat but it's the only way I figured I could position the seats. Dh is 6'3 so whether he drives or sits in the passenger seat he's still comfortable.

I would keep your DD behind the passenger side and put the baby behind the driver. When you have a newborn and a nearly 2 year old, and you're parked at the side of the road, it's safer to put the toddler in the car while you're at the curbside, and know that she's safely buckled in while the baby is in the infant seat. Wrestling a stubborn 2ish yr old while you're standing in the road is no fun, and they don't have the patience to wait while you load the baby first.

I would keep your DD behind the passenger side and put the baby behind the driver. When you have a newborn and a nearly 2 year old, and you're parked at the side of the road, it's safer to put the toddler in the car while you're at the curbside, and know that she's safely buckled in while the baby is in the infant seat. Wrestling a stubborn 2ish yr old while you're standing in the road is no fun, and they don't have the patience to wait while you load the baby first.

May sound crazy but we bought a new vehicle for this very reason. We have number 2 on the way and our LOs will be 17 months apart which means two rear facing seats. In order for us to both fit comfortable we bought a larger SUV and traded in my smaller one. Is that an option for you?

May sound crazy but we bought a new vehicle for this very reason. We have number 2 on the way and our LOs will be 17 months apart which means two rear facing seats. In order for us to both fit comfortable we bought a larger SUV and traded in my smaller one. Is that an option for you?

I am due in about 2 1/2 months. We haven't really decided how we're going to arrange car seats, yet. Originally I was planning on moving my son's car seat behind the driver's seat, but after reading your post I realized that's not going to work because the driver's seat would have to be pushed up. We will probably just have to put the new baby behind the driver, because my son will only be 16 months or so, and I want to rear-face as long as possible. We have a sedan, so there isn't a whole lot of room. I'd love to be able to trade it in or sell it for something more spacious, but it might be a while before we can do that.

I am due in about 2 1/2 months. We haven't really decided how we're going to arrange car seats, yet. Originally I was planning on moving my son's car seat behind the driver's seat, but after reading your post I realized that's not going to work because the driver's seat would have to be pushed up. We will probably just have to put the new baby behind the driver, because my son will only be 16 months or so, and I want to rear-face as long as possible. We have a sedan, so there isn't a whole lot of room. I'd love to be able to trade it in or sell it for something more spacious, but it might be a while before we can do that.

Not yet. We just got a new car right before DD was born. DH keeps talking about wanting a minivan, and I say no way! I refuse to drive a minivan! LOL.

Assuming the car accomodates side by side car seats, I THINK we're going to put DD forward facing in the middle and have the baby rear facing behind the passenger I did some searches online and this seemed to be the consensus, the one forward facing in the middle, and the one rear facing on the passenger side. The baby will be rear facing, the safer position, behind the passenger. And this will allow for me or DH to sit in the back with them if need be. And if that is inconvenient somehow, we'll switch them.

Not yet. We just got a new car right before DD was born. DH keeps talking about wanting a minivan, and I say no way! I refuse to drive a minivan! LOL.

Assuming the car accomodates side by side car seats, I THINK we're going to put DD forward facing in the middle and have the baby rear facing behind the passenger I did some searches online and this seemed to be the consensus, the one forward facing in the middle, and the one rear facing on the passenger side. The baby will be rear facing, the safer position, behind the passenger. And this will allow for me or DH to sit in the back with them if need be. And if that is inconvenient somehow, we'll switch them.

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